I just don't get Bieber Fever. Sign of ageing, perhaps? Maturing *snort* I'll take it. Love Taylor Swift though. Oh, and totally Anti-Miley.
My current obsession: football. Cesc Fabregas is genius.
Current sitcom that BOTH AK and I love - How I Met Your Mother. Current reality show I'm into - not Amazing Race, not Wipeout, NOT Jerseyshore or the Kardashians - Top Chef. And Criminal Minds has the most beautiful music.
Current read: Ghosts of Spain - Travels Through Its Silent Past by Giles Bennet. I don't have a very good record of reading non-fiction, factual books. I slogged through the last one (Bury Me Standing). But this one has me flipping and flipping in bed till my eyes water. The more I read about Spain (on Wikipedia mostly), the more I am fascinated by this "Nation of Nations", where different regions still cannot stand each other (Catalans and Basques call themselves Anti-Madrilistas), where football is the new "war" of the autonomies, but thanksfully this does not apply to team compositions, where Castillians and Asturians are as celebrated as the Catalans in Barcelona FC, the pride of Catalonia and a Basque plays for Real Madrid. Of course, this is how it should be but it fascinates me (football in general) how the sport crosses old borders and brings sworn enemies together. Spain is the only Western European country that not only retained is traditional folk dance/music - flamenco, and not only is it retained, it has flourished in both traditional and morphed versions.
Current trend I am sporting - Indian-style tunic tops, cosy cardigans (with ruffles - in black, open cardigans - in heather gray). Large rings I wear on my index finger.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Gorgeous Armani Prive
Claire Danes in Venice. Love the fact that she's not wearing any accessories - the dress has shine aplenty, and the freshness of her hair and makeup.
More gorgeousness, worn by the radiant Anne Hathaway.
When can I have one???
When can I have one???
She looks super thin here - her head almost looks too big for her shoulders, don't you think?
BUT - the dress is amazing.
Especially from the side. You do have to be super skinny to pull this dress off though, or else the waves might just emphasize the last bits you want emphasized - the tummy and the rear.
Check out those amazing Loboutins.
Courtyard Gardens
I love, love the concept of small gardens as close to living spaces as possible.
Creepear plants trailing down a shophouse courtyard wall. Skylight above.
In cramped balconies, plants hanging off an old clothes hanger.
Or hung along a sliding door.
Creepear plants trailing down a shophouse courtyard wall. Skylight above.
In cramped balconies, plants hanging off an old clothes hanger.
Or hung along a sliding door.
Box planters filled with herbs. The planters are old wooden wine crates!
An garden within a little terrace house. It is possible! I imagine the exact same thing in my future home.
A little courtyard garden within a 70's-era flat.
Hanging blooms in an airwell - a gorgeous idea.
An garden within a little terrace house. It is possible! I imagine the exact same thing in my future home.
The Swamps of Miri
Just a minute's drive from the office we work in, taken on a dreary, cloudy day that threatened to rain on us (and eventually did).
The road traverses a small patch wetlands. What you first see as you leave the office grounds is a squatter village - tin-roofed huts hovering precariously over the mud on uneven stilts. Children playing by the roadside, women walking down the road toward the bus stop nearer the office. A few minutes more and the ocean appears. A bit more - the expat village, old colonial-style single storey houses admist casuarina trees and winding cycling paths.
Locals fish and shrimp here in the swamps. And sell their catch too, along with watermelons, bananas and whatever else they grow on makeshift stalls lining the road.
A gnarly old tree that could be part of the set of Sleepy Hollow.
The stream empties into the rolling ocean beyond.
The road traverses a small patch wetlands. What you first see as you leave the office grounds is a squatter village - tin-roofed huts hovering precariously over the mud on uneven stilts. Children playing by the roadside, women walking down the road toward the bus stop nearer the office. A few minutes more and the ocean appears. A bit more - the expat village, old colonial-style single storey houses admist casuarina trees and winding cycling paths.
Locals fish and shrimp here in the swamps. And sell their catch too, along with watermelons, bananas and whatever else they grow on makeshift stalls lining the road.
A gnarly old tree that could be part of the set of Sleepy Hollow.
The stream empties into the rolling ocean beyond.
Brunch for One
Scrambled eggs the way I like it.
Minimal oil - just a few drops of oil in my nonstick, anduse a bit of paper towel to wipe the insides. making sure that the pan is coated with the thinnest slick of grease.
2 eggs, whisked with a fork. And I add these condiments: Maggie seasoning, soy sauce, a snipped up bird's eye chilli, and 3 cloves of garlic finely grated, a tablespoon or so of whole milk. Like I said, the way I like it - strong and spicaay.
Scramble till it's 90% done the way you like it, then grate in about two tablespoonfuls of parmesan cheese. Plate up and sprinkle with more than a generous twist of freshly ground black pepper.
Minimal oil - just a few drops of oil in my nonstick, anduse a bit of paper towel to wipe the insides. making sure that the pan is coated with the thinnest slick of grease.
2 eggs, whisked with a fork. And I add these condiments: Maggie seasoning, soy sauce, a snipped up bird's eye chilli, and 3 cloves of garlic finely grated, a tablespoon or so of whole milk. Like I said, the way I like it - strong and spicaay.
Scramble till it's 90% done the way you like it, then grate in about two tablespoonfuls of parmesan cheese. Plate up and sprinkle with more than a generous twist of freshly ground black pepper.
Dessert: Apples, sliced and sprinkled with a pinch of cinnamon.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Cinnamon Flop
Reading about someone's affinity with Krispy Kreme doughnuts reminded of how much I miss a bit of sweet fluff in my mouth. I made this super-easy cinnamon flop insteadI will admit falls VERY SHORT of a bite of a classic glazed, but what to do.
Cinnamon is a flavour I love, but it does get a bit medicine-like when applied in larger doses, as I recently learnt (tingling tongue, slight loss of taste sensation).
Anyway, the recipe is a reduced version of the one here. I omitted the egg, as I wanted it doughy, not cakey.
1 cup all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat atta flour)
1/2 cup sugar (add in more for a sweeter taste)
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla or 1 -2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
1 large egg (optional, I didn't use it)
TOPPING
1/4 cup brown sugar (can use more or less)
1 -2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tbsp melted butter
Cinnamon is a flavour I love, but it does get a bit medicine-like when applied in larger doses, as I recently learnt (tingling tongue, slight loss of taste sensation).
Anyway, the recipe is a reduced version of the one here. I omitted the egg, as I wanted it doughy, not cakey.
1 cup all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat atta flour)
1/2 cup sugar (add in more for a sweeter taste)
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla or 1 -2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
1 large egg (optional, I didn't use it)
TOPPING
1/4 cup brown sugar (can use more or less)
1 -2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tbsp melted butter
Set oven to 17o degC.
Prepare your pan - I used a cupcake tin, greasing the insides with a little oil.
In a bowl mix the flour, white sugar, milk, vanilla or almond extract, baking powder, pinch of salt and egg (if using) until just combined. Careful not to overmix.
Pour into the prepared baking pan.
Generously spread brown sugar and cinnamon on top.
Drizzle melted butter over top.
Bake for 20 minutes.
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